Abstract: A system may include a control circuit and a multi-level power converter comprising a plurality of switches and a power inductor electrically coupled to the plurality of switches, wherein the power inductor is coupled to a switching node of the multi-level power converter, wherein the multi-level power converter is capable of applying three or more switching voltages to the switching node. The control circuit may generate control signals that define a sequence of switching of the plurality of switches of the power converter, the control circuit configured to, during a switching cycle of the converter in which the power inductor is magnetized and demagnetized, control switching of the plurality of switches among at least three switch configurations during magnetization and demagnetization of the power inductor such that a voltage on the switching node experiences a different respective magnitude of voltage in each of the at least three switch configurations.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a power converter system may comprise a plurality of power converter stages in a cascaded arrangement, the power converter stages comprising at least a first power converter stage and a second power converter stage configured to modify an operational state and/or an operational mode of the second power converter stage responsive to feedforward information associated with the first power converter stage.

Abstract: A power management system for use in a device comprising a battery and one or more components configured to draw electrical energy from the battery may include a first power converter configured to electrically couple between charging circuitry configured to provide electrical energy for charging the battery and the one or more downstream components and a bidirectional power converter configured to electrically couple between the charging circuitry and the battery, wherein the bidirectional power converter is configured to transfer charge from the battery or transfer charge from the battery based on a power requirement of the one or more components and a power available from the first power converter.

Abstract: A power management system for use in a device comprising a battery and one or more components configured to draw electrical energy from the battery may include a first power converter configured to electrically couple between charging circuity configured to provide electrical energy for charging the battery and the one or more downstream components and a bidirectional power converter configured to electrically couple between the charging circuitry and the battery, wherein the bidirectional power converter is configured to transfer charge from the battery or transfer charge from the battery based on a power requirement of the one or more components and a power available from the first power converter.

Abstract: A system may include a boost converter configured to receive an input voltage and boost the input voltage to an output voltage and control circuitry configured to enforce a maximum current limit to limit a current drawn by the boost converter and in response to the output voltage decreasing below the input voltage, dynamically increase the current above the maximum current limit to cause the output voltage to be approximately equal to the input voltage.

Abstract: A method for determining if an inductor coupled to a switching network has been electrically shorted may include applying a voltage across the inductor for a predetermined period of time, controlling an impedance in an electrical path of a voltage source generating the voltage and the inductor, sensing an inductor current through the inductor, comparing the inductor current with a predetermined current threshold, and determining whether the inductor has been electrically shorted based on the inductor current, the predetermined current threshold, and the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for power amplifiers for coil array systems, which include load-independent Class E power amplifiers. In one example, a wireless charging system includes a three-dimensional (3D) coil array; and control circuitry configured to adjust a magnetic field generated by the 3D coil array, the control circuitry comprising a switching structure coupled to transmitting (TX) coils of the 3D coil array via independent matching networks. The independent matching networks can be LCL-matching networks.

Abstract: A power converter system for converting an input voltage at an input into an output voltage at an output may comprise a switch network comprising a reactive circuit element and a plurality of switches, switch control circuitry configured to operate the plurality of switch in a plurality of periodic, sequential states to regulate the output voltage, and reference current generating circuitry. The reference current generating circuitry may include a comparator coupled to a sensed switch of the plurality of switches and configured to compare a current flowing through the sensed switch to a reference current and current-steering circuitry coupled to the comparator configured to generate the reference current and alternate the reference current between a first reference current and a second reference current whenever the switch control circuitry changes from one state of the plurality of periodic, sequential states to another state of the plurality of periodic, sequential states.

Abstract: A system may include a boost converter configured to receive an input voltage and boost the input voltage to an output voltage and control circuitry configured to enforce a maximum current limit to limit a current drawn by the boost converter and in response to the output voltage decreasing below the input voltage, dynamically increase the current above the maximum current limit to cause the output voltage to be approximately equal to the input voltage.

Abstract: A method for operating a charge pump having a variable switching frequency may include comparing a target minimum output voltage with an output voltage generated at an output of the charge pump and controlling switching of switches of the charge pump based on the comparison such that the variable switching frequency varies as an output current driven by the charge pump varies.

Abstract: A method for determining if an inductor coupled to a switching network has been electrically shorted may include applying a voltage across the inductor for a predetermined period of time, controlling an impedance in an electrical path of a voltage source generating the voltage and the inductor, sensing an inductor current through the inductor, comparing the inductor current with a predetermined current threshold, and determining whether the inductor has been electrically shorted based on the inductor current, the predetermined current threshold, and the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A system may include a wireless receiver module configured to receive electrical energy from a wireless transmission module, a first power converter electrically coupled to the wireless transmission module and configured to convert a charging voltage generated by the wireless transmission module into an intermediate voltage, and a second power converter configured to be arranged in series between a battery and the first power converter and configured to convert the intermediate voltage into a battery voltage for charging the battery.

Abstract: A power management system for use in a device comprising a battery and one or more components configured to draw electrical energy from the battery may include a first power converter configured to electrically couple between charging circuity configured to provide electrical energy for charging the battery and the one or more downstream components and a bidirectional power converter configured to electrically couple between the charging circuitry and the battery, wherein the bidirectional power converter is configured to transfer charge from the battery or transfer charge from the battery based on a power requirement of the one or more components and a power available from the first power converter.

Abstract: A method for operating a charge pump having a variable switching frequency may include comparing a target minimum output voltage with an output voltage generated at an output of the charge pump and controlling switching of switches of the charge pump based on the comparison such that the variable switching frequency varies as an output current driven by the charge pump varies.

Abstract: A power supply system and method include multiple power conversion units (PCUs) with independent power generation control and a PCU-to-PCU regulation of power, handoff control system to transfer control of power regulation to a load among the PCUs. The multiple PCUs maintain independent power generation control to collectively provide power to the load and handoff regulation of the power to the load from one PCU to another PCU. The term “handoff” refers to communication between PCUs that affects a transfer and acceptance of regulation of power control. The independent PCU power generation control with singularly located but transferable control of the regulation of power provides a flexible dynamic power supply.

Abstract: A wireless power transmitter includes an inverter in which a voltage varies in response to a resonant network and circuitry configured to (A) measure a characteristic indicative of a load seen by the wireless power transmitter, (B) determine a duty cycle of the inverter based upon the characteristic, and (C) switch the inverter with the determined duty cycle.

Abstract: Methods and circuits for controlling a synchronous rectifier. An operating condition of the synchronous rectifier is detected. A voltage level applied to turn on at least one transistor of the synchronous rectifier us modified based upon the detected operating condition, to improve efficiency of the synchronous rectifier.

Abstract: A wireless power receiver IC in which the power path can be reconfigured as either a low-dropout regulator (LDO), a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) or a power switch (PSW) is provided. All three modes share the same pass device to reduce die area and share the same output terminal to reduce pin. In an inductive wireless receiver, the power path can be reprogrammed on the fly to LDO or PSW mode or can be reprogrammed on the fly to SMPS or PSW mode. In a resonant or multi-mode wireless receiver, the power path can be reprogrammed on the fly to SMPS or PSW mode. Furthermore, to achieve high power transfer efficiency performance, using N-channel MOSFET as its pass device has better efficiency and smaller die area than P-channel MOSFET pass device.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier using only n-channel devices in which the low-side switches are effectively cross-coupled using low-side comparators and the high-side switches perform an accurate zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) comparison. The charging path of each bootstrap domain is completed through the low-side switches, which are each always on for every half-cycle independent of loading. This scheme gives rectifier efficiency gain because a) each bootstrap domain receives maximum charging time, and b) the charging occurs through a switch rather than a diode. Both these factors ensure the bootstrap domain is fully charged, thereby reducing conduction losses through the rectifier switches. Furthermore, settings may be adjusted by software to optimize the resistive and capacitive losses of the rectifier. Using data for die temperature and operating frequency, software can create a feedback loop, dynamically adjusting rectifier settings in order to achieve the best possible efficiency.

Abstract: A resonant wireless power (RWP) receiver is provided that includes an inductor element that couples with a resonant wireless power source. A capacitor arrangement is coupled to the inductor element altering the open-circuit impedance of the RWP receiver to reduce the ac voltage under certain defined situations. The capacitor arrangement includes a plurality capacitors tuned to a control ac voltage in the RWP receiver.